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November 15, 2013 : By Sabina MollotState Senator Brad Hoylman, along with other East Side elected officials, has been petitioning the state’s new storm recovery program, which has been focusing its efforts on restoring and protecting Lower Manhattan from future Sandy-like disasters, to include areas further north — in particular Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Waterside Plaza and the hospitals along Bedpan Alley.

On December16 from 1:30-4:00 p.m., I am sponsoring Project Renewal’s Scan Van, which will be parked on First Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets to provide free mammograms, by appointment, to women over 40 who haven’t had one in the past year. Annual mammograms help detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage and can save lives. Space is limited, so please call (800) 564-6868 to make your appointment.

New York, NY – New York State Senator Brad Hoylman released the following statement in response to the announcement by New York City Councilmember Dan Garodnick and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn that an agreement could not be reached on the Bloomberg Administration’s East Midtown Rezoning proposal: “I applaud City Councilmember Dan Garodnick and Speaker Christine Quinn for turning back the East Midtown rezoning plan. Rather than attempt to strike an incomplete deal, they made the sensible decision to hold out for the thoughtful, bold plan the midtown business district needs and the city deserves.

Last month tenants at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village (ST-PCV) received several Major Capital Improvement (MCI) rent increase orders issued by the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR). These MCI orders will mean sizable rent increases and considerable retroactive charges for tenants. On October 16, I wrote to and spoke with DHCR Commissioner Darryl Towns to echo the ST-PCV Tenant Association’s (TA) concerns about the first MCI order for the video intercoms (see my letter attached). On October 30, I joined City Councilmember Garodnick and Assembly Member Kavanagh in writing to Commissioner Towns urging him to stop the process, reverse the approvals, and reconsider all of the MCIs granted.

New York, NY – New York State Senator Brad Hoylman released the following statement in response to the news that American Bar Association (ABA) President James Silkenat had withdrawn as the keynote speaker at the November 18, 2013 Russia Forum New York. “I applaud ABA President James Silkenat for withdrawing as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Russia Forum New York. His action sends a strong message to the Russian Federation that its state sponsored attacks against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people will not be condoned by leaders in the international legal and investment communities. It also sets an example for other leaders in commerce and government about the moral imperative to oppose anti-LGBT discrimination.

On November 6, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh and I submitted testimony to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development on the agency’s proposed changes to the rules governing Mitchell-Lama developments. We raised particular objections to the proposed amendments affecting succession rights; establishing procedures for the reconstitution of Mitchell-Lama coops as Housing Development Fund Companies; and weakening the priority for veterans.

“It is wonderful the U.S. Senate has passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would protect Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals from discrimination on the job. Of course it will not be the law of the land until it is passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Obama, and even then its protections are limited to the workplace.

On November 1, I joined State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal and other local elected officials in calling on Governor Cuomo to sign a bill she authored which makes it easier to crack down on “puppy mills” in New York State. Puppy mills are often filthy, overcrowded and lead to serious medical and genetic conditions which are only discovered after the puppies have been sold to local stores and their customers. It is unconscionable for anyone to keep animals in such conditions.

In early summer, as part of Governor Cuomo’s NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program, Lower Manhattan was awarded $25 million to create and implement locally-created strategies for rebuilding and strengthening the community against future extreme weather. A Community Planning Committee made up of community leaders, experts, and officials has been driving the planning process.

On October 31, I testified at a hearing held by the New York City Council Committee on Civil Rights regarding the recent rise in anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) crimes in New York City. Through the middle of August, the New York Police Department had reported 68 anti-gay hate crimes this year -- including 41 assaults and two murders -- up from 54 in all of 2012. I noted that as government officials, we have a responsibility to protect our city and its citizens from such vicious, bias-motivated attacks, which send a powerful and fear-inducing message to all members of the targeted community. Please see my testimony below.

As we approach the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, we should remain cognizant of the existing hardships that continue to affect many of our city’s neighborhoods. New Yorkers have shown great resiliency in the storm’s aftermath and I applaud those who have volunteered on behalf of storm damaged neighborhoods here and across the city. Also, it is my hope that this anniversary can serve as a reminder of the need to be prepared for any disaster. I’d like to encourage everyone to develop an emergency preparedness plan, some tips on which can be found on New York City’s Office of Emergency Management website at www.nyc.gov/readyny.

On October 18, New York State Education Commissioner John King, Jr. announced he and the State Board of Regents would be holding a series of 12 forums in school districts across the state to meet with parents and educators to discuss the Common Core Standards and other education reforms approved by the State Board of Regents. I was deeply disappointed to see that New York City, with its approximately 1.1 million public school students, was left off the list of school districts where forums will be held. Please see below my letter to Commissioner King urging him to hold an additional forum in New York City during the first round of public meetings.

On October 22, 2013, I testified before the New York City Council Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises regarding the Department of City Planning's proposed East Midtown Rezoning. I am the State Senator representing approximately two thirds of the East Midtown Rezoning area and State Senator Liz Krueger represents the other third. Please see below a joint letter we submitted to Members of the City Council highlighting some of our chief concerns about the proposal.

I have been working with New York City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, other local elected officials, the PS 63 and PS 363 school communities, and CB3 to address concerns about the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and School Construction Authority's (SCA) asbestos removal construction project scheduled to start on Friday, November 1 at the school building at 121 East 3rd Street.

On October 3, 2013, at Manhattan's SVA Theatre, I hosted a presentation by Energy Policy Forum founder Deborah Rogers on Frackonomics: Debunking the Financial Myths of Fracking. Click play to see the event in its entirety.

Each year, local elected officials, community boards and local precincts are besieged by complaints as SantaCon, a mass pub crawl of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, passes through their neighborhoods and the actions of its participants can have a detrimental effect on residents’ quality of life. Please see below the letter I sent to SantaCon organizers urging them to work with the New York Police Department and local community boards on a strong and effective plan for controlling the event.

On October 16, Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) came to my district office to administer free flu shots to constituents from across my district. Over the course of three hours, VNSNY nurses gave a total of 88 flu shots; I was happy to get one myself. If you have not already gotten your flu shot, please visit the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's flu prevention website at nyc.gov/flu to identify a provider near you.